Are you planning a rafting/zipline trip but wondering were to stay? Many AVA customers tend to choose camping for an all around outdoor experience. Our outpost in Idaho Springs is surrounded with multiple different camp grounds surrounding the town. Be sure to maintain a “pack in, pack out” mentality as well as abiding fire danger warnings. We and all other outdoor enthusiasts would appreciate those visiting our beautiful Rocky Mountains to not only camp responsibly but also to leave no trace.
St Mary’s Glacier
St Mary’s Glacier, located only 9.2 miles from Idaho Springs is one of the area’s most popular scenic hiking destinations. At the top of a ¾ mile hike is St Mary’s Lake surrounded by bristlecone pine, thick willow and colorful wildflowers. The land that you walk through on the hike to St. Mary’s Lake is private but the owners permit access to the public and have done so for many years. Camping my only take place on public land North of the Glacier
West Chicago Creek Campground
Located three miles off Highway 103 along West Chicago Creek in an aspen and lodge pole pine forest setting. There are 15 sites available, all sites are suitable for small RV camping and tents. Facilities provided include restrooms and water. Each site contains a tent pad, picnic table and fire grate. Some first come, first serve sites may be available. Sites may be available on a first come first served basis outside the reservation season.
Echo Lake Campground is located on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in central Colorado near its namesake lake at the base of Mount Evans along Hwy 103.
The campground offers 11 sites more suited to RV camping and seven sites designated for tent camping only. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Also, there are vault toilets, hand pumps with potable water and trash service.
Camp Rock Campground
The campground, located on the side of a mountain, is composed of one large loop with a tiny loop inside it. Lodgepole pine and Aspen shelter the sites while Douglas fir and other conifers surround the campground. The under story is grass with good privacy between camping sites. Some sites have delightful views of the peaks in the Mt. Evans Wilderness. There is a total of 36 campsites with no RV access.